INTERNATIONAL COTTON ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Standing Committee SC-N-523 Washington, DC April 18, 2013
WORLD COTTON SITUATION
Outlook for 2012/13 and 2013/14
Beginning the season at 81.65 cents per pound on August 1, 2012, the Cotlook A Index dropped slightly to 79.40 cents in November before rising steadily to 98.85 cents on March 18, 2013 and has retreated to the low 90s cent level since. International cotton prices has shown an average level of volatility, a stark contrast to the extreme volatility in 2010 during which cotton prices rapidly rose from 86.3 cents per pound to 243.65 cents per pound in the first 6 months. In 2012/13, global cotton production is estimated down by 5% from 27.4 million tons to 26 million tons, and projected to drop another 9% to 24 million tons in 2013/14. From this season to the next, cotton production in both China and the United States is estimated to decrease by 700,000 tons, and Brazil and Australia by 100,000
- tons. On the other hand, cotton mill use is expected to rise by 3% to from 22.8 million tons 23.4 million tons,
and projected to rise 1% to 23.7 million tons in 2013/14. The increase in mill use in India, Bangladesh, Turkey and Pakistan is expected to be offset by reduction in China in the next season. As a result, cotton stocks at the end of season 2012 and 2013 are forecast above 16 million tons, up 18% and 1.5% respectively. The global stocks-to-use ratio is forecast at 71% in 2012/13 and 69% in 2013/14, the highest level since World War II. However, the China National Reserve has expanded from 300,000 tons of cotton stocks last season to an estimated 1 million tons as of March, reducing “free” global stocks. “Free” global ending stocks is estimated at 8 million tons and 6.8 million tons in 2012/13 and 2013/14 respectively, and the stocks-to-use ratio in the world minus the China national reserve drop to 28% and 27% respectively breaking the lowest stocks-to-use record of 33% in 1989/90, posing a potential challenge to the global supply of cotton outside of China. Another challenge the cotton sector is facing is the increasing substitution of manmade fiber. The increase in cotton prices in 2010 and 2011 during the period of high volatility eroded the price competitiveness of cotton to
- ther fiber. Around its peak, the average monthly price of cotton in March 2011 was 229.67 cents per pound,